2.3 million more Illinois jobs at risk: The devastating economic toll of the virus in 6 charts

Illinois is facing an unemployment crisis unlike any seen since the Great Depression, as the new coronavirus ravages the economy and puts people out of work.

The situation may get worse.

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In Illinois, 37% of jobs are at risk of ending in furloughs, layoffs, or sharp reductions in hours or pay because of the COVID-19 outbreak, according to a recent analysis from McKinsey Global Institute. But some positions are more endangered than others.

The percentage of vulnerable jobs is slightly higher in Illinois than nationally, but overall, the trends in the state mirror what is going on around the country. Up to one-third — or 57 million — U.S. jobs are vulnerable to economic inactivity caused by the pandemic, according to the analysis.

The dire situation “is going to be very hard to come back from,” said Kweilin Ellingrud, a senior partner in McKinsey’s Minneapolis office.

“Job gain takes quite a bit longer ... than job losses," she said. “We will be steadily working our way back for a number of years.”

The toll has already been heavy, but many more jobs are vulnerable.

The state processed more than 1 million unemployment claims between March 1 and May 2.

All of the Chicago area is at risk

Illinois’ more populous counties, which employ more people in industries affected by the pandemic, like restaurants, tourism and even manufacturing, tend to have the most vulnerable jobs.

Women, people of color and those earning less than $40,000 are more likely to be affected

Early job losses hit women harder than men, in part because they account for almost two-thirds of employment in hard-hit industries like hospitality, education, health and retail. Hispanic, African American and low-income workers also are more likely to be in vulnerable jobs.

Service, retail, travel industries are most vulnerable

Nationally, the states with the most vulnerable jobs are those that have a lot of tourism, which is reflected in hotel, food service and retail jobs. Illinois mirrors that trend.